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AssigneeNovadent Ltd.
InventorsItai Bab, Osnat Feuerstein, Vered Vivi Ziv
Estimating the term…
A device and method for the detection of smooth surface lesions such as caries and tooth crown surface cracks on a tooth crown surface, the device having an ultrasonic surface wave transmitter/receiver comprising a focused ultrasonic surface waves along a tooth crown surface. Surface lesions encountered by the ultrasonic surface waves produce ultrasonic surface wave reflections which are receivable at the generator/receiver, thus enabling the presence of the lesion, and particularly small lesions, to be detected. The ultrasonic surface wave generator/receiver may comprise a focused transducer, having a focusing element integral therewith or separate therefrom, operatively connected to a wedge-like coupler. Longitudinal ultrasonic waves generated by the transducers are at least partially focused by the focusing element and then imparted onto the tooth surface by the coupler which has a contact surface in contact with the tooth surface being tested. The coupler also enables ultrasonic surface wave reflections to be received by the transducer.
A probe for the detection of smooth surface lesions of a tooth crown surface, comprising an ultrasonic transducer, capable of transmitting ultrasonic waves and receiving ultrasonic wave reflections via a distal face thereof, and further comprising a coupler operatively connected to said distal face of said transducer and having a contact surface distal to said transducer, wherein said transducer is a focused transducer comprising at least one focusing element capable of at least partially focusing ultrasonic sound waves generated by said transducer along a principal axis of the said focusing element at least within said coupler, said coupler comprising a wedge angle B between a plane substantially perpendicular to the said principal axis of the said focusing element and a plane substantially tangential to the said contact surface at least at the intersection of said principal axis with said contact surface, said wedge angle B being substantially different from 0°, whereby, when said contact surface is in substantial contact with a tooth crown surface at least at said intersection of said principal axis with said contact surface, ultrasonic waves generated by said ultrasonic transducer are imparted by said coupler onto said tooth crown surface as surface ultrasonic waves which migrate along said tooth crown surface, said ultrasonic waves being at least partially focused along said principal axis at least within said coupler, and said lesions being detectable as surface ultrasonic wave reflections produced thereat received by said transducer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.